Releasably-locked garment rail or hanger.



l. M. CALLAHAN.

RELEASABLY LOCKED GARMENT mm 08 HANGER.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 9. 1915.

1,218,980. Patented Mar.13,l917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. M. GALLAHAN.

RELEASABLY LOCKED GARMENT RAIL 0R HANGER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.191s.

1,218,980. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cyx

FEET.

JEREMIAH M. CALLAHAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RELEASABLY-LOCKED GARMENT RAIL 0R HANGER.

Application filed June 9, 1915. Serial No. 33,037.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH M. GALLA- HAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented cerain new and useful Improvemnts in Releas ably-Locked Garment Rails or Hangers, of which the following is a specification, refer, ence being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The object of this invention is to provide a garment hanger or rail for use especially in theaters, publichalls, and like places, and more particularly the invention has for its object the provision of such a device requiring the prepayment of a coin for its use. Vith these ends in view, my invention consists of a garment hanger or rail, applied to a suitable support, such for instance as the back of a chair, and movable relatively thereto respectively to operative and inoperative positions, suitable means being provided for locking the rail in an inoperative position, which means are adapted to be unlocked by the user, preferably through the medium of a coin of the proper denomination, so that when unlocked, the rail may be moved to an operative position to support the garment.

In the more specific embodiment of my invention, the garment rail is connected with the chair back in such manner that it may be swung to and from the same respectively to inoperative and operative positions, for use by a person occupying the next seat in rear, a member being connected to and movable with the rail, and being acted on by a releasable locking device serving to normally look the rail in an inoperative position, and an actuating device for the locking device being employed and being controlled in its action by the insertion of a coin; whereby on the insertion of the coin, the actuating device may be operated torelease the locking de vice, which in turn will release the garment rail from its inoperative position, and the latter may be then swung to its operative position.

hile in the acconuoanying drawings I have shown my improved garment rail applied to the back of a chair, this application of the device adapting the same for use in theaters, public halls, and the like, so that the occupant of one chair may use the rail on the chair in front of him, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to this particular use and application, but may Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917-.

be employed in other localities; and further it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or construction of the parts, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device showing the same applied to a chair back, the garment rail being in an inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing in full lines the rail in an operative position, and in dotted lines, the intermediate position of the rail in moving the same from an inoperative to an operative position.

Fig. at is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the device removed from the chair and viewed from its rear side, certain parts being broken away and other parts omitted, to better illustrate the construction, the garment rail being shown in inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing in full lines, the intermediate position of the rail in moving the same from an inoperative'to an operative position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken onthe line a-a of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow on said line.

Fi g. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7)b of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow on said line.

Referring to the drawings:

' 1 represents a garment hanger or rail,

suitable for supporting cloaks, wraps, and

other garments, and like articles, which rail comprises a cross bar 1 and laterally extending end-arms 1 and 1, constituting in effect a unitary structure of general U-form. 2 represents a suitable support to which the rail is applied, this support in the present instance being a chair-back. Fixed to the rear of the chair-back, near its opposite ends, are two upright guides 3 and 3 in the pres. ent instance of tubular form, which guides are provided with laterally extending 'perforated ears 4t, by means of which the guides are adapted to be fixedly fastened to the support as shown in Fig. 1. A slide 5 is mounted in the guide 3 and is movable endwise therein, the upper end of which slide is provided with an open slotwhich receives an ear 6 on thelower end of the arm 1, the ear being confined in the slot by means of a pivot pin 7, this construction constituting in efiect a hinged joint or connection between the slide and arm, enabling the arm and connected cross bar to pivot relatively to the plunger on a horizontal transverse axis. Mounted in the guide 3 is a slide 8 having its upper end slotted to receive an ear 9 on the lower end of the lateral arm 1", a pivot pin 10 connecting the ear within the slot and forming a hinged joint or pivotal con nection between the parts, similar to that described in connection with the other arm. As a result of the jointed connection between the arms and the slides, the rail as a whole may be swung relatively to the chair back to and from the same on a horizontal transverse a-xis coincident with the axes of the pivot pins 7 and 10, the rail when swung up to the chair-back as shown in Fig. 2, being in an inoperative position, and when swung away from the same as shown in Fig. 3, being in an operative position, and adapted to receive and support the garments. The upper ends of the slides and the adjacent conected ends of the railar1ns, form in effect continuations of each other, and when the rail is swung up in an inoperative position, the ends of the arms will enter within the upper ends of the tubular guides as shown in Fig. 4, the jointed connections between the arms and plungers being thus housed and inclosed by the guides, which will hold the rail in its inoperative position and prevent the same from being pivotally swung away from the support. To swing the rail away from the support to an operative position, it will be necessary to first move the same upwardly until the jointed connections be tween the arms and slides are above and free of the upper ends of the guides as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the rail may be swung downwardly on the axes of the pivot pins 7 and 10- relatively to the slides, to an operative position. as shown in Fig. 3, in which positions of the parts, the ears 6 will engage the upper ends of the guides.

The slides are acted on at their lower ends by spiral springs 12 seated in the lower ends of the guides and hearing at their upper ends against the lower ends of the slides, the said springs, when the slides are moved downwardly in the guides, being compressed and placed under tension, whereby they will tend to elevate the slides and thrust the jointed connections of the rail-arms with the slides above the upper ends of the guides, as shown in Fig. 5, the upward movement of the parts being limited by means of pins 13 projecting laterally from the slides and moving in vertical slots 14 in the guides, the relation of the parts being such that when the pin 13 engages the upper end of the slot 14, the ears 6 will rest upon and engage the upper ends of the guides and will thus firmly sustain the cross bar 1 in a supporting position.

The slides are held down in their guides against the force of the springs, by a releasable locking means, in the present instance in the form of a horizontal retractable bolt 15?, mounted to slide endwise in guiding openings in arms 16, 16 and 16 fixed within a casing 17 surrounding the lower portion of the tubular guide 3 and firmly fixed to the chair-back. The active end of the bolt is adapted in its movements to extend through a vertical slot 18 in the side of the tubular guide 3, and when shifted in one direction, to the left as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the end of the bolt will engage over an annular shoulder 19 on the slide 5, and when so engaged, the slide will be locked in its depressed position with the springs under tension. lVhen the bolt is retracted, its active end will disengage the shoulder, and the springs will elevate the slides and thrust the hinged connections of the rail outwardly from the guides so that the rail will be free to be swung away from the chair to an operative position. The locking bolt is urged normally to the left to locking position, by means of a spiral spring 20 surrounding the bolt between the arms 16 and 16, one end of the spring bearing against the arm 16 and its opposite end against a shoulder 21 on the bolt. WV hen the bolt is retracted as shown in Fig. 5, to release the slides, its active end will, when the slide 5 is in a raised position, bear against the side of the same below the annular shoulder thereon, so that when the slide descends from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4 to cause the jointed connections between the rail arms and slides to enter the upper ends of the guides, the bolt will, when the annular shoulder passes beneath the active end of the bolt, be automatically thrust by the spring 20 above the shoulder and will thus lock the slide in its depressed position. It will. be understood of course that inasmuch as the two slides are connected together through the medium of the intermediate rail, the slides and rail will move in unison under the influence of the two actuating springs, the locking bolt, by acting on one of the slides,

serving to hold both down; and when the bolt is retracted, the parts are permitted to be projected as a single structure, the two slides in such action being moved upwardly together and imparting a corresponding upward movement to the connected rail.

In the operation of the mechanism so far described, when the slides are locked down against the force of the actuating springs. the hinged connections will be housed in the upper ends of the tubular guides, and. the rail will be in an upright position lying closely along the rear side of the cl1airhaek at its upper end, this being the normal inoperative position of the device. In operating the device to move the rail. to an operative supporting position, the locking bolt is rttracted by suitable means to release the slide thrust the slides upwardly and raise the hinged joints above and free of the upper ends of the tubular guides, and the rail may be swung downwardly to a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3, the parts being supported in this position by the engagement of the pins 13 in the upper ends of the slots 14. lVhen the rail is to be returned to its former inoperative position, it is first swung upwardly to the dotted line position of Fig. 3, whereupon it is pushed downwardly, which action will cause the hinged connectionsto enter the upper ends of the guides, and when the annular shoulder on the slide 5 passes below the active end of the latch, the latter will be projected overthe shoulder and will lock the slides down.

I propose to control the release of the locking bolt, through the medium of a coin of the proper denomination, so that it will be necessary before the rail can be used, to employ a coin for its release. In the present instance, this is'efiected by a suitable actuating means controlled in its action by an inserted coin, and operating when actuated to retract the locking bolt. Various forms of mechanism for this purpose may be employed, but I prefer to adopt the specific device shown, and now to be described, and which in practice has answered to a satisfactory degree the ends aimed at. On reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, it will be seen that there is'mounted within the casing 17, a disk 22 having fixed at its axial center, a stud 23 extending loosely through a bearing-opening in the front side of the casing, and having fixed to it a knob 24 by means of which the disk may be turned from the outside. The disk extends at its lower side between the locking bolt 15 and the front side of the casing, and it is provided on its front side with a cavity 25 forming a pocket to receive the coin A, inserted through a coinslot 26 in the upper end of the casing. Cooperating with the disk, is a locking dog 27 pivoted as at 28 to the front of the casing, and provided with a nose 29 which normally enters a peripheral open recess 30 in the edge of the disk, which recess is closed at its end adjacent the coin pocket, by means of a stop shoulder 31, the arrangement being such that a limited movement of the disk in an anti-clockwise direction will bring the stop shoulder against the nose on the dog, whereby the further movement of the disk in that direction will be arrested. The dog is provided beyond the nose, with a finger 32, which, when the nose rests in the peripheral recess, will extend in the path of the coin in the coin pocket, as shown in Fig. 4, the engagement of the coin with the finger serving to rock the dog on its axis and thereby shift the nose to a position where the stop shoulder will be allowed to pass. Project ing rearwardly from the side of the disk at the sideof the coin pocket, is a lug 38, which, when the disk is turneda half revolution to the position shown in Fig. 5, will engage a projection 34 on the side of the locking bolt, and by such engagement the locking bolt will be retracted.

lVith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4 with the rail in inoperative position, and with the coin pocket in position beneath the coin slot to receive the inserted coin, the nose on the locking dog will extend from the peripheral recess 85, and the finger on the locking dog will extend in the path of the coin. When, now, a coin is inserted in the pocket, and the knob 24 is turned to rotate the disk in an anticlockwise direction, the edge of the coin, by engaging the finger 29 on the locking dog, will lift the latter and carry the nose out of the path of the stop shoulder 31 on the disk, so that the latter may be turned a half revolution with the coin held in the pocket, and to such point that the lug thereon will engage the projection 34 on the locking bolt and will retract the same. In the meantime, the coin is held in the pocket in the disk, by a segmental guard 35 fixed to the casing, extending close to the outer edge of the disk at one side, the lower end of the said guard terminating at such ooint that the coin will be released and allowed to fall, as shown in Fig. 5, as the lug 33 on the disk engages the projection on the locking bolt. By the retraction of the locking bolt, the slide 5 will bereleased and the springs will, as before described, elevate the slides and will thrust the hinged joints out of the upper ends of the tubular guides, and permit the rail to be swung downwardly to operative position. lVhe-n the rail is swung back to an inoperative position, and the slides lowered and looked as before described, the knob 24 is rotated in the opposite direction, in order to restore the disk to its former position with the coin pocket-beneath the coin slot, ready to receive the-next coin, the disk being prevented from moving beyond its proper receiving position, by the engagement of the lug 33 thereon with a finger 36 fixed to the inner side of the casing and extending alongside the disk. With the parts in this position they cannot be operated to release the locking bolt, unless a coin is inserted, because any attempt to turn the disk to release the parts, will be prevented by the engagement of the stop shoulder 31 on the disk, with the nose 29 on the locking dog 27.

My improved device, as hereinbefore described, is simple in form and construction, and ornamental in appearance, and provides a garment rail which, when applied to the backs of chairs in theaters, public halls, and other places, occupies but little space, and

requires the prepayment of a coin for its use. /V hen in an inoperative position, the rails extend closely along the chair backs, and consequently they do not obstruct the passages between the rows of chairs. hen swung away from the chair to an operative position, a convenient and effective hanger or support is afforded for the garments, without in any way inconveniencing or incommoding the person making use of the same.

It will be understood that in the use of the device in theaters, etc., the usher or attendant, after each performance, will restore such rails as have been used, to their former locked inoperative position, this being effected by merely swinging the rail upwardly and forcing the ends of the arms down into the guides, and then turning the disk back to cause the coin pocket to register with the coin slot, and to cause the locking dog 27 to come into action and lock the disk against unauthorized action.

By reason of the rearward slope of the chair back, the rail will automatically swing down by gravity to an operative position, after being projected upwardly by the actuating springs, so that, all that is required of the user, is to insert the coin and turn the knob to release the parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A garment hanger comprising guides; slides mounted to move in said guides; a garment supporting member pivotally mounted on said slides; means for exerting pressure against said slides and normally tending to force them out of said guides; means for limiting the outward movement of said slides in the guides; said garment supporting member being adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly when the slides are in an outer position in the guides and to swing upwardly and inwardly when the slides are forced inwardly against the pres- Copies of this patent may be obtained for sure exerting means; and means for locking and releasing the slides when pushed into the guides against the force of said pressure exerting means.

2. a garment hanger comprising guides; slides mounted to move in said guides; a garment supporting member pivotally mounted on said slides; pressure exerting means acting against said slides and normally tending to force them out of the guides, means for limiting the outward movement of said slides in the guides; said garment supporting member being adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly when the slides are forced outwardly from the guides, a portion of said garment su1 porting member being adapted to be forced into the guides when carried back into alinement therewith; and means comprising locking instrumentality for securing the slides in the guides against the force of said pressure exerting means.

3. In combination with a support, a garment hanger comprising a plurality of guides adapted to be mounted on said support and provided with a plurality of slots;

said guides being closed at one end and open at their opposite ends; a spring member housed in the closed end of each guide; slide members disposed in said guides and having projections extending through said slots; a garment rail having an angulated portion at each end, pivotally mounted on the free ends of the slides; said rail being adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly when the slides are in their outer position and inwardly and into approximate engagement with the support when the slides are forced inwardly against the tension of said spring members; and releasable locking means for holding the slides in the guides against the force of the springs.

In testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my signature.

JEREMIAH M. OALLAHAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

